Fantasy writer walks free after porn trial

Published on Saturday 18 November 2006 01:34

A BIZARRE world of paganism, magic spells and witches' curses at a Scottish farm has been exposed during the trial of an author charged with child porn offences.

Fantasy writer Bernard King, 60, walked free from court yesterday after allegations that he hoarded pornographic images of children on his home computer were thrown out.

But before the case against him was dropped, details of King's life in a pagan commune - set up at Bankhead Farm, Strathaven, by fellow writer and self-confessed witch Freya Aswynn - were revealed at Hamilton Sheriff Court.

It emerged that King left the peace-loving commune of nature lovers after a row with Aswynn over a replica gun.

After his departure 5,518 pictures, some showing children having sex with adults, were found on a computer King gave to a fellow pagan's teenage daughter. Police were called and King was arrested.

But yesterday the charges were dropped after prosecution witness and fellow pagan Trady Wadman, 38, changed her evidence in the dock.

Miss Wadman, who lived at the commune with her 15-year-old daughter Cerise, said Aswynn considered herself a witch. She said Aswynn - whose real name is Elizabeth Hooy-schuur - claimed that she could cast a magic spell on people she didn't like.

King blamed Aswynn in court for downloading the porn.

The court heard that since Mr King's alleged offences between December 2002 and May 2003 Aswynn had sold Bankhead Farm. Jurors were told that Aswynn, whose website says she is a natural witch, had moved abroad.

Outside court yesterday Mr King said: "I can't tell you how much stress this has caused me, but I knew all along I had not done anything wrong. The lesson to be learned from this is that it's important to choose your friends very carefully."